The Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC), Neil Johnston (below left), has praised the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), while calling for more action against shop thieves.
Speaking of recent crime figures in the region, he said: “Last year in Northern Ireland we saw a 20% increase in the number of reported shoplifting incidents - from roughly 7,500 to nearly 9,000. This crime wave against retailers in Northern Ireland seemingly reflected the rest of the UK.
“This year the Office of National Statistics recently reported another 20% increase in England, with a commensurate rise in Scotland. The latest figures from the PSNI, however, show that in the year to the end of June reported incidents of shop thefts dropped back down to 8,500 a year in Northern Ireland.
“The reasons why Northern Ireland seems to be bucking the trend aren’t entirely clear, but I think it’s fair to assume the hard work of the PSNI is paying dividends.”
Retailers who already investing considerable sums on crime prevention. Shoplifting in Northern Ireland is still at levels markedly higher than levels seen historically.
Johnston continued: “That’s why the NIRC is calling on the NI Executive and the Policing Board to acknowledge the scale of the problem in Northern Ireland and to ensure that the PSNI have adequate staff levels and other resources to enable them to continue to bear down on the scourge of shop thieves.
The NIRC is also repeating its call for the Assembly to do more to protect retail workers. Scotland and England and Wales have all made it a stand-alone criminal offence to assault a retail worker. “The NIRC and trade union USDAW have appealed to the Justice Minister, Naomi Long, to put in place similar protections for shopworkers here in Northern Ireland,” Johnston added.
“It would be unacceptable for Northern Ireland to be the only part of the UK where shopworkers are without better legal protections.”
“We’re grateful that the Minister is planning to bring forward legislation to make it an offence to assault a public facing worker. This legislation can’t come soon enough for retail workers in Northern Ireland, who are sadly subjected to a range of wholly unacceptable and abusive behaviour including assault on occasions. It would be unacceptable for Northern Ireland to be the only part of the UK where shopworkers are without better legal protections.
“The NIRC hope that all political parties in Stormont and every individual Assembly Member will get behind the passage of this legislation as a priority in the coming months.”
Responding to the news in our post on the story, Scottish organisation Retailers Against Crime said: “We sincerely hope the proposed legislation in Northern Ireland progresses quickly.
“The Protection of Workers (Scotland) Act has already made a meaningful difference since its introduction, sending a clear message that abuse and violence towards retail staff will not be tolerated. It’s vital that retail workers across all parts of the UK are afforded equal protection under the law. No one should face threats, abuse or violence simply for doing their job.”
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